Decoding India's Digital Design Dialects

The Internet is filled with different websites and apps that deliver similar value but look completely different. Is there a psychology behind designing for users? If yes, what does it mean for a diverse country like India?

Let's look at the famous SBI website. As a UI/UX designer and developer, I'd rate its looks 3/10. But why was it built this way? No colors, no aesthetic flourishes. Yet from a UX perspective, it's a simple site that provides everything on the page. Users can understand and find what they want at first glance. No unnecessary navigation or animations. It feels like notes written on paper - straightforward and comprehensible.

On the other hand, some websites and apps feel luxurious to use and navigate through. CRED is a perfect example of ultra-premium digital product design philosophy in India.

In design perceptions how's CRED's experience feels: The Minimalist User Interface, luxurious aesthetic, Highly emphasis on micro-interactions, Some Motion design & smooth transitions, Gamification elements, White space utilization, Custom typography & iconography overall just great experience!!

While Government & Banking Apps (Like SBI) Design feels: Mostly Focuses on functions over form, Information density, High trust indicators, Multiple verification layers, Traditional interface patterns, Conservative color schemes.

Not enough to analyze the difference pattern and strong why behind: Let's Look at particularly shopping platform designs tier 1 cities and tier 2 & 3 cities product designs.

Common Design Factors in Products like Myntra, Urbanic, Nykaa: They have Clean, minimalist interfaces, High-quality product images, Sophisticated color scheme, Smooth animations and transitions, Focus on brand storytelling overall Premium feel throughout.

While Products like Meesho and Flipkart emphasize: The more Simpler, more straightforward interfaces, Focus on functionality over aesthetics, Higher text-to-image ratio, More direct language, Less emphasis on brand experience, Often multilingual support

But why these differences? The reasons lie in user context:

Tier 1-2 city users Are digitally sophisticated. They Have higher expectations for user experience they Care significantly about brand image and Value aesthetic appeal they show more tolerance for complexity if it adds value, Often have better devices, faster internet, more digital experience

When building premium platforms, businesses focus on three factors: Building brand value, Justifying higher prices, Creating aspirational experiences and to achieve that they allocate higher budgets on designs.

Technical considerations for premium apps assume Better devices, Stable internet, Latest browsers, International design standards, Global aesthetic

For masses Tier 3-4 cities: Users may have limited digital literacy, They mostly Focus on practical needs over experience, Need clarity and simplicity, Face bandwidth and device constraints, Have basic smartphones, limited data plans, less digital exposure, Prioritize utility over beauty. They try to deliver design and product in cheap and affordable way.

Mass market platforms consider: Older devices, 2G/3G connections, Basic browsers, Offline functionality, Local cultural elements, Familiar patterns, Regional language support

How Indian Apps Shape Their Design Around User Demographics, Cultural Context, and Economic Realities each app's/website core design focus distills to:

• SBI: "Getting the job done reliably for everyone"
• Myntra, Nykaa, Urbanic: "Making online fashion feel premium and personalized"
• Meesho, Flipkart: "Making online shopping accessible and trustworthy for first-time users"
• CRED: "Creating an exclusive, premium experience that makes everyday payments feel luxurious"
• Government sites: "Delivering information and services without barriers"

Experience design goes beyond screens. needs to remember Building globally successful products isn't easy, Consider both website functionality and user needs & culture, There's no one-size-fits-all approach, Avoid cookie-cutter design processes Know who you're designing for Understand why you're building the product in the first place

This isn't a misconception but a deliberate strategy. While there's always room for improving user experience across segments, maintaining appropriate design philosophies for each target audience is crucial.